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“There is a fatal defect in the life of Christ’s Church in the 20 th Century – a lack of true discipleship. Discipleship means forsaking everything to follow Christ. But for many of today’s supposed Christians – perhaps the majority – it is the case that while there is much talk about Christ and even much furious activity, there is actually very little of following of Christ Himself. And that means in some circles, there is very little genuine Christianity. Many who fervently called Him, ‘Lord, Lord’ are not Christians.” Discipleship means forsaking everything to follow Christ. But for many of today’s supposed Christians – perhaps the majority – it is the case that while there is much talk about Christ and even much furious activity, there is actually very little of following of Christ Himself. And that means in some circles, there is very little genuine Christianity. Many who fervently called Him, ‘Lord, Lord’ are not Christians.” 4

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“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32 Romans 8:32 6

DENY YOURSELF Self-denial  “To disown” - to state that we are not connected with someone we are not connected with someone  To put to death our self-agenda and our self-interest and our self-interest  To die to self 7

“If you are busy and never have time to rest, when you relinquish your free time to serve a brother or sister, you are denying yourself. You deny yourself when you use the time that you could have spent with your family - the time that you could have spent with friends and things that you would like to do - to visit and care for the sick. You deny yourself when you give sacrificially to the poor and needy.” 8

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS Cross-bearing Difficulties are not an indication of cross- bearing. Difficulties for Christ’s sake are. “Cross-bearing” is our willingness to endure persecution, rejection, reproach, humiliation and even death for the sake of Christ. 9

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FOLLOW ME Loyal Obedience “One follows Jesus by trusting in Him, walking in His footsteps, obeying His commandments out of gratitude for salvation through Him ….” William Hendrikson William Hendrikson 11

FOLLOW ME  Obey all that Jesus commands  Love what He loves; Hate what He hates  Make His life a pattern for our living 12

 1 John 2:4 The man who says “I know Him,” The man who says “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father.” 13

14 WHAT IS THE COST?

WILL YOU HEED THE CALL? [1] Deny yourself [2] Take up your cross [3] Follow me 15